Baling press



Dec. 30., 1924.

W. H. CAMP BALING PRESS Filed Sept. l0 1919 11 Sheets-Sheet l www...

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CAMP

BALING PRESS Filed Sept. 10, 1919 11 Sheets-Sheet 5 W.v H. CAMP BALING PRESS Filed Sept. l0, 1919 1l Sheets-Sheet 4 Dec. 3o, 1924.

W. H. CAMP BALING PRESVS Filed Sept. l0, 1919 11 Sheets-Sheet 5 mm mw n mm um Een, 30gV i924. 1,521,429

W. H. CAMP BALING PRESS Filed Sept. .10, 1919 1l Sheets-Sheet' 6 div/ay Dec. 30, i924. LSZAMZ@ w. H. CAMP BALING PRESS Filed sept. 10, 1919 11 sheets-sheet v Dec. SQ 1924- 1,521,429

W. H. CAMP BALING PRESS Filed Sept. l0, 1919 ll Sheets-Sheet 8 f ill/55' ri@ 'i 22' 5 Wfmfjef Y i; l I y I Dec.'30. 19,24- 1,521,429

W. H. CAMP BALING PRESS Filed sept. 1o, 1919 11 sheets-sheet 9 f@ W y 1 Dec. 30, 1924-A 1,521,429

w. H. cAMP BALING PRESS Filed Sept. lO, 1919 l1 Sheets-Sheet 10 i f'g. 54. @57.55, 129.59.

I u i0/ W. H' CAMP Dec. 30.1924- 1,521,429

Filed Sept. l0, 1919 ll Sheets-Sheet 11 IUI mmf 550W/0l CFL Patented Dec. 30, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WARNER H. CAMP, 0F ATLANTA, GEORGIA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0 J. HALL MILLER, OF ATLANTA, GEORG-IA.

BALING Application filed September To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, VARNER H. CAMP, a citizen of the United States, residing at Atlanta.7 in the county of Fulton and State of Georgia, have invented new and useful 1mprovements in Baling Presses, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in baling presses for hay or other fibrous material.

The principal obj ect-s of the invention are to provide a baling press which has such compactness of structure and organization that it may be readily transported on a fiat car, yet which shall compress the bale to a. very high density, at least equal to that obtained with very large and heavy stationary presses, and which shall provide a bale of rectangular forni; which shall operate with great rapidity and whose output shall be equal to that of the largest stationary presses, which shall require a comparatively small degree of power, yet whose operation shall be automatic in nearly all of its phases, ranging from the preliminaryv compression of the bale and the loading of the press chamber to the discharge of the finished bale, the manual operations involved being very few and being confined to devices by which the automatic operations are controlled; which in connection with the discharge of the finished bale shall effect a very gradual but certain, uniform and controllable relief -of the pressure on the bale; and which, notwithstanding its compactness, in conjuncltio-n with its capacity for achieving high Vdensity and a maximum output, shall be eX- ceedingly strong and sturdy in its construction,

rihe above objects are attended with the following advantages:

The high density and rectangular form of the bale effect a substantial.' measure of economy in the utilization of space available for transportation. The portability of the press in connection with its capacity for a maximum output enables a material reduction in the number of cars and the mileage required in the transport o-f the fibrous material. Thus finished bales may be produced at the farm or plantation which may be shipped directly to the nea-rest or most favorable distributing center with the most eflicient utilization of the space available for transportation audwith an elimination PRESS.

10, 1919. Serial No. 322,918.

of the relatively great transportation space and mileage required under the practice, heretofore necessary, of shipping the bales as loosely made up in the fields to some distant point for re-baling by a stationary compress and of thereafter shipping them to remote distributing centers. rPhe automatic character and correlation of the principal operations involved reduce to a minimum the requirement for manual labor. The com paratively small degree of power required renders available for the operation of the press any of the motor appliances which rform part of the equipment of every farming center. The gradual but certain and uniform relief of the pressure on the finished bale effectively protects the tie-wires from being snapped consequent to the stresses of expansion when the high density bale is relieved, thereby promoting the security of the finished bale and assuring that it shall have the density desiref..

The baling press disclosed is of the revoluble turret type according' to which a number of press chambers are arranged at intervals about a rotary carrier and the sequential operations in connection with the forniation of a bale are concurrently performed upon the various bales in the respective press chambers, the carrier having stepby-step rotation and bringing the press chambers into relation to the successive stations at which the different operations Vare performed.

`With the stated objects and advantages in view the invention consists in certain features of structure, combination and relation which will be set forth in detail as the de scription proceeds. Certain of these features pertain to a baling press of the revoluble-turret type; other features pertain to the preliminary compression and press loading or charging mechanism; and still other features pertain to the high density press unit and various parts appurtenant. to and employed in co-operati on with said press unit.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein Figure l is a plan view, partly in section, of a baling press in which the features of the invention are incorporated.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view on the vline 2-2 of Figure 1. The lines A-A, B-B, and CU of Figure 2 indicate the planes of the respective horizontal sectional compressing the bale and loading the pressv chamber upon the completion Of the operation thereof.

Figure 4 is a detail vertical sectional view showing the operation of compressing the bale to high density in the press chamber.

Figure 5 is a similar view showing the press chamber during the preliminary relief of the finished bale just prior to itsV discharge. Figure 6 is a similar view showing the press chamber during the discharge of the finished bale.

Figure 7 is a'detail vertical sectional view of the Vpreliminary compression and loading chamber and the plungers co-'operating therewith. Y

Figure 8 is an end elevation of the preliminary compression and loading chamber.

Figure 9 is a plan view and Figure 10 an elevation of the cylinder in which operates the piston of the high densitybaling plunger.

Figure 11 is a plan view of the lower portion of the press chamber.

Figures 12 and 13 are partial elevationsV and vertical sections on the respective lines 12-12 and 13-13 of Figure 11.

Figure 14 is a plan view of the high density baling plunger. s Figures l5 and 16 are partial elevations and vertical sections of the respective lines 15--15 and 1616 of Figure 14.

Figures 17 18 and 19 (Sheet 5) are views, Figures 17 and 19 side elevations, and Figure 1S an edge elevation of one of the dogs,

of which two groups are employed for hold-V ing the bale in the press chamber.

p Figure 2O is a'plan view of the head which carries the platen of the presschamber, said platen co-operating with the high density `baling plunger shown in Figures 14-16.

Figure 21 is a partial elevation and vertical section on the line A21-21 of Figurel20.

Figurel 22 is a bottom plan view Vof the platen of the press chamber.

Figures 23 and 24are partial elevations andV vertical sections on the lines2323 and 2li-24 of Figure 22.

Figure 25 is a plan view of a cylinder for vco-operation with a plunger carried by the headshown in Figures 20 and 21.

Figure 26 is a partial elevation and vertical section on the line 26-26 of Figure 25.

Figure 27 is an elevation showing the outer face of one of the vertical movable walls of the press chamber.

Figures 28 and 29 are vertical and horizontal sectional views on the lines 28-28 and 29-29 of Figure 27. s

Figure 30 is an elevation showing the inner face of the wall shown in Figure 27.

vits actuating lever by which the the turret is Y controlled.

Figure 31 is anelevationshowing the outer face of .another ofthe vertical movable Walls of the press chamber and Figure 32 is aside elevation thereof. c Y Y Figure V33 is a horizontal section onV the line 33-33 of YFigure 31. f

Figure 34 is a plan view of a stationary head which forms anelementof each press unit. f L

Figure 35 is a partial elevation and vertical section on the line 35-35 of F igure34.

, Figures 36 and 37 are, respectively, a plan view and a side elevation of a movable cross head which forms an element of each press unit.

Figure 38A is a verticalsectional .view and Figure 39 is an elevation of certain connec-V tions between .the cross head shown in vures 36 and 37 and the dogs 'shown' in'Fig ures 17-19. Y r- Figure 40 is a partial elevation and vertical section of a cylindrical element upon which the lcross headshown in Figures 36 and 37 ismounted. j f

Figures 41 and 42 (Sheet are plana-nd side elevations of '.thereonstantly rotatable element of a'clutch which controls thel rotation of the turret.

i Figure 43 is a plan view, Figure 44 a vertical section and-Figure 45 a bottom plan view of the clutchand gear element companion to the velement shown in Figures 41 and 42; Vp p VFigure 46'is a plan view; and' Figures 47 and 48 are side and end elevations of the pin, by which the said clutch elementsare con-VV nected and' disconnected.

Figure 49 (Sheet 1) isa vertical sectional view of the lclutch with its elements. in oper g atively connected relation.` l

Figure 50 (Sheet 1) Vis a plan view offa lever for controlling the operation o-f the clutch.

Fi'gurelL (Sheet 11) Visaplan view of the 'i base of the press frame, showing in detail the arrangement thereon of the clutch-'and rotation of Figure 52 is aside elevation of the struc-Y ture shown in Figure .51.

Similar characters VVof reference designate parts throughout the several` if corresponding views. Y f

General @radura-The press disclosed is of therotary turret type and itsmain frame (Figures 1 and 2) consists of a base 1, a head 2 and vertical'tension rods Vextending between and connecting therbase and the head. Therearel preferably three tension Y rods of which two are designated 3 and the third one is designated 3a and said rods arey preferably equidistantly arranged. The rod 3ahis utilized as the axis of rotation of theY press unit carrier which, for convenience, may be termed a turret.7 Y The turret (Figures 1 and 2) includes a base 4 provided with a central sleeve which has a rotatable bearing upon the rod 3a and an end thrust bearing upon the base 1. The turret also includes an annular table 6 which is preferably located at an elevation above the base 4 from which it is supported by a cylindrical iiange 7. As shown .and referred the table 6 and flange 7 are formec integral and the flange 7 is secured to the base 4 by screws 8 or other suitable fastenings.

The table is provided with counterpart press units of which any desired number may be employed. As shown and preferred there are six of these units. ln the formation of the bale there are certain sequential operations which are performed concurrently upon the different bales in the respective press units. These operations are performed at stations and the turret is rotated in step-by-step fashion to bring each press unit into relation to the successive stations, each press unit being at a station when the turret is at rest. ln the embodiment disclosed there are a preliminary compression and loading station, a high density baling station, two bale tying stations, a bale relieving station and a bale discharging station. Each pressY unit includes a press chamber which has an open lower end through which the bale is introduced and discharged and through which operates the plunger employed to effect the compression of the bale to high density.

PreZi/mz'nwz'ljz/ compressing the bale and loading a press dummen-The press is adapted to loose material or to material baled to light density by field presses. ln either case it is preferable to provide for a preliminary compression which will reduce the volume of the hay by half and which will be exerted in a direction at right angles to the high density compression effected in the press chamber. The means for preliminar-ily compressing the material and the means for introducing the material into the press chamber are preferably in combined relation and of the structural form illustrated in Figures 1, 3, 7 and 8.

The material to be baled is initially deposited in a preliminary compression chamber 9 which is open at its top and includes afixed end wall 10, fixed side walls 11 and a fixed bottom section 12. The chamber 9 is provided with a bottom opening 13 and the bottom, as normally constituted, is completed by a loading plunger 14 which occupies said opening. rllhe chamber 9 is also provided with an end opening 15 which is normally occupied by a preliminary compression plunger 16, constituting a movable end wall and located opposite the fixed end wall 10. The chamber 9 is located in part under the table 6 but projects radially beyond said table (Figures 1 and 3) and the material to be baled is conveniently introduced into said chamber through the open upper end of its projecting portion, it being understood that the plungers 14 and 16 are in their retracted positions (Figure 7) and that the material is introduced in such quantity as to completely fill said chamber. The chamber 9 is preferably proportioned to receive two standard size field bales which are set on end, one resting on the plunger 14 and the other resting on the bottom section 12. The plunger 16 has a stroke equal to one-half of the length of the chamber 9 whereby, when fully projected (broken lines, Figure 7 ),'said plunger will reduce the volume of said chamber by half and will occupy a position wherein it is flush with the adjacent wall of the opening 13 and immediately adjoins the plunger 14. In this way the material with which the chamber is charged will be preliminarily compressed to half of its original compass. Thus two field bales will be preliminarily compressed into the compass of a single bale.

The plunger 16, having completed its compression stroke, is held in its fully projected position during the operation of the plunger 14, the latter moving upward through the chamber 9 as delimited by the plunger' 16 to a position slightly beyond the upper end'of said chamber (Figure 3) and thereby carrying i. e. elevating the preliminarily compressed bale from the chamber 9 into the high density press chamber then located in alinement with the chamber 9.

The plungers 14 and 16 may be operated by any suitable means. As shown and preferred they are operated hydraulically and forthis purpose are mounted upon rods 17 which, at their ends remote from said plunge-rs, are provided with pistons 18 operating in cylinders 19. The cylinders 19 may be cast with the press chamber and, of course, stand at right angles to one another, their heads 2O through which the rods 17 work being suitably packed. The valve conections by which the fluid medium is admitted to the cylinders 19 may be of any suitable structure and arrangement and, embodying no new features and forming no parts of the invention, have not been shown, except for the nipples 21 by which the motive fluid is admitted into the cylinders.

Ealing to high filmsite/. The operation of compressing the bale to high .density of course immediately succeeds the operation of loading the presschamber; and in the high density compressing operation various parts of the press chamber to be hereafter described are cooperating elements. For the present it is sufficient to point out that the active element for the high density compression is a plunger 22 (Figure 2) which opcrates vertically through the press chamber los and is effective in cooperation with certain parts of said chamber to reduce the volume of the bale, as loaded therein, Vby substantially half. This will be apparent from a comparison of Figures 3 and 5, Figure 3 showing the bale as loaded into the press chamber and Figure 5 showing it upon the completion of the high density compression and inits final size. The balein its final sizev as shown in Figure 5, is substantially one-fourth of the volume of the material as introduced into the chamber 9 since the volume of such material is first reduced by half in the chamber 9 and, as thus reduced, is halved again in the press chamber.

The plunger 22 (Figures 4, 15 and 16), in order that it may match with certain of the press chamber parts, is formed along two of its opposite sides with recesses 23 which afford regularly spaced projections 24.

The plunger 22 may be operated by any suitab-le means but it is preferably operated by compressed air (Figures 2 and 4) and for this purpose the rod 25 by which said plunger is carried has at its: lower end a suitably packed piston v2G operating in a cylinder 27 whose upper end is closed by a head 28 secured by screws or other fastenings 29 and whose lower end has a combined compressed air. inlet and exhaust duct 30.

The valved connectionsrby which the com- Y:at

pressed -air is controlled, i. e. admitted yto and vented from the cylinder 27, are'not shown since they may be of any suitable andknown construction and form no part of the invention. v

The cylinder 27 is preferably cast integral with the base 1 from which it depends and to whose up-per face it is open, the opening being closed by the lhead 28. Stated otherwise the base 1 is cast as a flange, circumscribing the upper end of the cylinder 27 VsoY and the head 28, in sofar as it may be used as a. support for any of the parts employed,

. is functionallyv a part of said base.

The press cza//nbcn-The table 6 is utilized as apart of the framing (Figures 1 and 2). of each press unit, such framing additionally 'including a stationary head 31 and posts 32 extending between and connecting said table and said head.

Each press unit also includes the press chamber proper whose walls are movably mounted, as will be hereafter described, and preferably a partJ whichV forms an extension of the press chamber at the lower end thereof and whose walls are fixed. chamber extension 33, as shown, is of rectangular box like form (Figures 11,' 12 and 13), being open at vits upper and lower ends and is arranged -at the under" side of the table 6 ,againsty which it is supported by prolonga-tions of the posts`32 and nuts 34 on thelower terminals of said posts, the extension box 33 having at its upper end -a The press The box `33 maintains: thel preliminaryV compression of the bale and the opening delimited by its vertical walls of course conforms tothe horizontal outline and 'dimensions'of the bale. VSaid wal-ls, however, pref- Yerabl have theirbale engaging faces vb C) C slightly and regularly taperingtoward their upper ends (Figures 12 andy 13) in order that they may exert gradually increasing lateral compressive pressure Aupon the four vertical sides of the bale as .it vis moved through the box 33 by the plunger 22;Y and this tapering outline is also carried out with certain parts which' are in .operativeL associa-tion with the box 33, aswill be here-Y after described, and Vwhose faces are parts of the bale engaging surfaces within said box. vIn this way the lateral preliminary compression of the bale is measurably and advantageously increased.

The structure includes means for the support of the balewhich is operable to provide for its discharge from the press. Such means preferably comprises dog-s 38 (Figures 2, 3 and 17-19) which are pivotally V.mounted at the lower end of the `box 33,

and project upward through said .box into the press chamber proper. 4The dogs 38are.

arranged in opposing groups (Figure 1, section B-B of Figure 2), preferablyV adjacent the. innerpand outer circumferences of the turret, and are mounted upon parallel rock shafts 39 for which the box 33 is provided with end. bearings 40'. As thus mounted the dogs have two positions, in

one of which they are upright as shownV in Figure 3 and in the other; and normal of which they are inclined toward one another as shown in Figures 2 and 15. .In order that their inward movement may be arrested and their innermost position-s lpositively determined the dogsare provided I above the table 6 with outwardly projecting arms 41 which terminate in hook-like 'lugs 42 for engagement with the-inner and outer circumferential edges of the table 6. In

order that `the dogs maybe ofthe same format both sides of the box 33, thereby j to avoidcomplication in manufacture and assemblage, the table G has along rritsinner edge recesses 43 which afford clearances for the lugs 42 of the adjacent groupo-f dogs and whose bases are parallel rto the outer edge portions of the table l6 with which they have common radial fbisectors and are located at the same distance from the longitudinal ceiitei's of the respective boxes as the said outer edge portions with which they are parallel.

The bale-engaging surfaces of the boX 33 at the sides thereof adjacent which the dogs 38 are mounted are, in part, afforded by inwardly project-ing vertical ribs 44 which delimit vertical recesses 45 in which the dogs are arranged and have their movement. The dogs are pressed back into their upright or outer positions, :as shown in Figure 3, by the adjacent upper edges of the bale very shortly after the upper end of the bale penetrates the lower end of the box 33 in connection with the loading of the press chamber; and when the dogs thus occupy their upright positions, their confronting vertical faces form parts of the adjacent bale-engaging surfaces of the boX and are flush with the respective confronting vertical faces of the ribs 44, the baleengaging surfaces which are thus provided by the dogs and the ribs being substantially continuous when the dogs are upright. The bale-engaging surfaces of the boX are completed by the lower portions of the walls of the press chamber proper, as will be hereafter described and the box 33 is formed, internally, (Figures l1, l2 and 13) to accommodate said press chamber walls whereby their inner faces will be flush with the bale-engaging faces of the walls of the box and of the dogs 38. Thus the upper portions of the confronting faces of the ribs 44 ai'e outwardly inclined as at 46 and the upper portions of the other two walls 47 are outwardly inclined as at 4S.

The walls of the openings 37 of the .table l are, as stated, functionally parts of the walls of the box 33 and accordingly the walls of said openings adjacent the inner and outer circumferences of the turret are formed with projections 49 and recesses 50 alining with and forming continuations of the respective ribs 44 and recesses 45, said projections having their confronting vertical faces inclined in conformity to the inclination 46 of the confronting` faces of the ribs; and the other two vwalls of the open-v ing 37 have their confronting faces 5l inclined conformably to the inclination ,48 of the walls 47 of the box 33. l

The projections 24 of the plunger 22 aline with the ribs 44 of the boX 33 and the recesses 23 of said plunger aline with the recesses 45 of said box and afford accommodation for the dogs 38, enabling said dogs to move inward and under the bale as shown in Figure 4 when the plunger 22 has reached the limit of its upward stroke.

The upper faces of the dogs are arranged at such an angle, as at 52, (Figures 5 and 17-19) to the shanks or body portions of the dogs that they will occupy a common platen and engaging said tang;

horizontal plane and hence afford uniformV and stable support for the bale when the dogs are in their innermost positions. The inclined upper faces 52 also provide engaging points 53 which, by virtue of the normaltendency of the dogs to move inward, effectively bite into and therefore securely grip the bale and hold it against downward displacement during the interval between the loading of the press chamber, as effected by the plunger 14 and the high density compression of the bale as effected by the plunger 22.

The dogs are also formed in their upper faces 52 and for the full length thereof with slots 54 which are preferably of key-hole cross section and through which the wire bale ties are threaded when the press unit reaches one of the tying stations.

rlhe press chamber proper consists of a top wall or platen 55 (Figures 2 and 22-24), two opposing vertical walls 56 (Figures l, 2 and 27-30) and two other opposing vertical walls 57 (Figures l, 2 and 3l-33) located at right angles to the walls 56 and delimiting therewith a rectangular enc-losure alining with and conforming to the enclosure provided by the box The platen 55 and vertical walls 56 and 57 are in co-olperation with the plunger 22 to effect the high density compression operation and are movably mounted whereby they may be displaced from their normal operative positions in order to gradually relieve the pressure on the densely compressed bale prior to its discharge. Accordingly and as pre ferred said platen and vertical walls are carried by a vertically movable head 58; the platen is rigidly secured against the under face of said head, preferably by means of a tang 59 projecting downward from the head and socket-ed in the platen and a set screw or other fastening 60 carried by the and the four vertical walls are movably connected to the head, preferably by knuckle pivots, as at 61, and are normally perpendicularly pendent from said pivots. Nhen the head moves upward, as will be hereafter described, the platen, manifestly, moves away from the upper end of the bale and the four vertical walls move laterally outward, the pressure upon the upper end and the vertical sides of the bale being, in this way, relieved. lt is preferred to provide for the positive operation of the four vertical walls whereby to space them from the bale as an incident of the discharging),` operation; and, for this purpose, said walls are provided at the upper side of their pivotal connections 6l with inwardly directed upwardly inclined fingers 62 which aline with and work in the recesses between the pivot knuckles of the head and. as the head 53 reaches the upward limit of its movement, engage the stationary press unit head 3l asa shoulder or abutment, suc-hV engagement being effective to positively y move the walls 56 ward positions.

The inner faces of the walls 56-57 are vertically continuous but their outer fafces 57 to their extreme outhave their lower portions foi-'med on downward and inward inclina-tions 63 andl 64 respectively, conforming to the respective inclinations 46 of the extension-box ribs 44 and 48 of the extension-box walls 47. The

lower portions of the walls 56 and 57 pro-v ject into the upper end of the box 33 and said walls, in their normal' positions and by virtue of the inclinations 46-63 and 48-64, have their inner faces flush and vertically continuous with the bale-engaging faces` (preferably upwardly tapering) of the said ribs 44 and walls 47.

The walls 56, which. are disposed adjacent the inner and outer circumferences of the turret, have a grid-like form and include a plurality of vertical parallel members whose Vlower portions 65 aline with and conform to the ribs 44 and delimit recesses 66 which aline with and conform to the re,- cesses 45 and whose upper portions 67 are of greater width and delimit relatively narrow slits 68 which are preferably bellmouthed, as at 69, along the outer faces of saidwal'ls. The recesses 66 afford accommodation-for the portions of the dogs 38 which project upward beyond thel bale-engaging faces of the extension box and, forming` sub-v stantial continuations of the recesses 45, aline with the recesses 23v of the plunger 22; and the parts 65, which form substantial continuations of the ribs 44, of course aline with the projections 24 of said plunger. The slits 68 with their bell mouths 69' provide guides for the wires used in tying the bale and by reason of their length and form facilitate the handling and manipulation of these wires.

The platen has itsA working (under) face provided with slots which extend between the walls. 56 and aline with the slits 68. The slots 7 O- are guides for the tie wires and preferably have a hey-hole cross section similarly to the slots 54 (with which they correspond in function) of the dogs 38.

density compression bei' may be employed, beingV threaded orl manipulated through the slots 54 andr70 of.V the dogs 38 and platen 55 and the slits 68 of the walls 56 and tightened about thebale, their ends being' then suitably secured to-VV gether. Y e

Upon the release ofthe compression pressure exercised by the press chamber parts the bale tends to re-expand, butthis tendency is largely counteracted by the tie wires'. However if the re-expan'sion tendency develop suddenly or violently there is serious liability of the tie wires being snapped or stretched beyond the elastic limit and to prevent this Veffect I have provided for the very gradual Vrelief of the pressure upon all sides of the bale prior toits discharge from the press, this.relieviiig operation being performed at a Station intermediate the last tying station and the nal station of the machine whereat Vthe bale is discharged.. Y

During the high density compression op-. e'rati'orrthe head 58 is held with substantialrigidity in its lowermost position and thereby the platen 55 and the walls 56 and 57 arey rigidly maintained in their operative positions.. But for the gradual' relief of the compression pressure (Figure 5) the head and Y platen are 'permitted t-o rise under thereexpansion tendency of the bal-e and as the' head thus ymoves upward it raisesthe walls 56 and: 57 and the re-expausion of the bale at its sides moves the said walls outward, as shown in Figure 5, it -beingunderstood that the raising of the walls 56 and 57 provides fora measure of outward swingingmovement of said. 'wallsY which Vis limited by the engagement of their lower ends with' the wa-l'lsof the extension box 33. i

For the control of the head 58 in the Vabove stated functions and operations it 'isv prefer-red to employ an oil chamber and piston in association Vwith said head and the station-V ary press unit head 31. 'The press unit head has incorporated therewith (Figures/4, 5, 25 andv 26). a cylinder 71 whose upperfend is closed by a head 72 and whose-,lower end* is open. To facilitateV manufacture the cyly inder 71 is preferably made as a sepa-rate part and is permanentlytitt'ed within the head 3l with which it has an air' and liquid tight jointure.v The cylinder 71 provides an oil chamber and the` head 58 carries an upy right plunger 73 which pro-jects into ysaid cylindenv the joint being maintained oil tight by suitable packing 74.V The head 3l (Figures-4, 34! and 35) is formed', preferably=` in ciicumscribing relation tothe cylinder 7l, withl an oil reservoir 75 closed by a cover plate 7 6 suitably secured to said head; and

the chamber provided by the cylinder 71 has communication with said reservoir by an inlet duct 77 and an outlet duct 78.V The duct 77 is` controlled by a suitable check valve 79V whereby the oil may not be forced back from ably of the screw stem type) which may be opened to any desired degree to regulate the flow of the oil from the cylinder 7l to the reservoir 7 5.

During` the high density compression operation the valve 80 is fully closed and the oil is confined in the cylinder' 7l, its escape being prevented by the check valve. 79. The oil in the cylinder 7l functions as a rigid abutment for the plunger 73 whereby the yhead 58 is rigidly held in its lowermost position and the. platen and walls 56 and 57 are rigidly maintained in their operative positions. It will Abe obvious that the opening of the valve 8O provides for the escape of oil from the cylinder 71 to the reservoir 75 and that the plunger 73 in response to the upward pressure exercised by the densely compressed bale on the platen 55 will, when the valve is opened, move into the cylinder 7l and force the oil from said cylinder through the duct 78 into the reservoir 75. lonsequently when the compression pressure is to be relieved the valve 80 is manipulated and, by opening said valve to a greater or less degree, the gradual relief of the compression pressure may be absolutely controlled and regulated, i. e. accelerated or retarded as desired.

lt is preferred to interpose between the plunger 73 and the cylinder head 72 an eX- pansive helical spring 8l which will incidentally retard the upward movement of the head 58 and there-by insure the gradual relief of the compression pressure in case the valve 80 should, by carelessness or negligence, be ope-ned too suddenly and widely but whose principal function is to assist the return of said head to its normal position. This is effected, as will be hereafter described, subsequent to the bale discharging operation during which the valve 8O is left open and is preferably fully opened.

After the relieved the compression pressure has been press unit is moved-to the bale discharging station where the dogs 38 are operated to release the bale and permit its discharge by gravity (Figure 6), the released bale dropping from the press through the lower end of the box 33. In connection with the releasing operation of the dogs 38 it is preferred to provide for further outward movements of the press chamber walls 5G and Accordingly the mechanism by which .the dogs 38 are controlled and operated is preferably correlated to the. press chamber head 58 in such manner (l) that it will effect a further upward movement of said head, (2) that it will act in conjunction with the oil and the spring 81 in the cylinder 7l in retarding the upward movement of said head and the consequent outward movement of the walls 5G and 57 during the bale relieving operation above described, and that it will prevent an operation of the dogs to release the bale except when the pressure on the bale has been relieved.

The mechanism for operating he dogs 38 to release the bale is preferably operated by compressed air and has, as its operating part, an air driven element 82 (Figure 2) which is formed as a cylindrical cap and has a very close sliding lit on the cylinder 7l. The press unitI head 3l has an air duct 83 which is continued vertically through the cylinder 7l and opens to the upper face thereof. The air admitted through the duct 83 reacts against the head 72 and raises the cap cylinder 82,

The compressed air for the operation of the cap 82 is supplied from a suitable storage reservoir (not shown) which is connected by a pipe 84E (Figure 2) to a duct 85 formed axially in the tension rod 3EL and, as shown, extending from the upper end thereof. rlhe duct 85 at its lower end has one or more radial branches opening to a distributing chamber 86 fitted with air tight jointure upon the rod 3a and connected by radial pipes 87 to the ducts 83 of the respective press units. The pipes 87 are provided with manually operat-ed controlling valves 88 of suitable and well known structure which may be operated to pass air to the ducts 83 For the operation of the cap 82 and to vent the air to the atmosphere after the cap has been operated, thereby to provide for the return of the cap to its normal position wherein it rests upon the head 31.

The cap 82 has an external annular shoulder 89 (Figures l and 40) which affords a seating for a ring 90 (Figures l, 4, 36 and 37) having a slidable fit on said cap and provided with oppositely located, outwardly projecting, radial arms 91. The rock shafts 39 which carry the dogs 38 provided, externally of the box 33 and at both ends, with crank arms 92, those of one rock shaft projecting toward those of the other. rlhe crank arms 92 are resiliently or elastically connected to the arms 91 of the ring 90, the connections (Figures 3, 5, and 39) con'iprising a stem 93 rigidly secured to and pendent from each arm 91, a sleeve 94 enclosing the lower end of said stem and slidably mounted thereon and toggle links 95 between the lower end of the sleeve 94 and the pair of crank arms 92 at the same side of the press unit, the table 6 (Figure l) having slots 96 through which the links 95 project. The stem 93 terminates at its lower end in a head 97 which affords bearings for two expansive helical springs, the upper one 98 bearing llO Y described.

against the flange 99 at the upper` end of the sleeve 94 and the lower one 100 bearing against the bottom head 101 of said sleeve. Above the head 97 the stem is formed with anv annular shoulder 102 which, at times, engages the flange 99 as will be hereafter which the arms 103 areclamped againstv the shoulders 104. In the normal positions of the parts (Figure 2) the arms 103 are suitably spaced above the upper end of the sleeves 94 whereby said sleeves may have upward play on the stems 93.

The dogs' 38 tend to move into their inner and normal positions by gravity but they are also urged into such positions by the springs 100. Thus during the loading of the pressV chamber, the bale in its upward movement through the boX 33 presses the dogs outward but such outward movement of. the dogs is resisted by the springs 100 which, as soon, as the. bale has passed upward beyond the dogs, are effective to quickly m'ove, i. e.. snap, the dogs into their inner position to provide support for the bale as shown in Figure 5.

When the press chamber head 58 moves upward during the operation of relieving the compression pressure on the bale it carries with it the stems 93 but the upward movement of the head is then opposed by the springs 98 which are compressed between the heads 97 of Vthe stems 93 and the flanges 99 of the sleeves 94, the latter being held stationary by the dogs 38 whose movement is prevented byV the weight of the bale resting thereon. The springs 98 thus, incidentally, provide further or cumulative means for insuring of the gradual relief of the pressure on the bale.

The ring 90 slides upward on the cap 82 during the relief of the compression pressure but during `the operation of Yreleasing thev bale it is enga-ged and raised by the cap. For this operation the valve 88 is manipulated to admit compressed air under the cap which then moves upward and shortly after its movement commences engages the ring 90 which is thereafter raised. By means ofthe ring 90 the cap isroperatively coupled to the stems 93 which, as the' ring is raised by the cap, are effective to lift the sleeves 94 and, through the togglel-inks 95and crank arms 92 to move the dogs 38 outward from under the bale.

` positions In lifting theysleeves 94 the stems at iirst act through the springsl 98 which function asV resilient cushions `andprevent the'de-V velopment of sudden shocks. Subsequently, and as the compression yof the springs 98 may permit, the shoulders 102 of the stems V93 come into engagement with the flanges 99 of the sleeves 94 and thereupon thelift- Ving of said sleeves by said stemsls effected Y positively. As lthe vstems 93 are raised, in the manner just described, by thecap 82 they are also effective to lift-the press chamber head 5,8, the oil` escape valve 80y having been left open as previously eX- plained. This lifting of the pressV chamber head1 obviously increases the amplitude of outward movement of the-press chamber walls 56 and' 57 and is effective to positively space said walls from the bale owing to the engagement of the fingers 62 of said walls against the stationary press unit head 31. f

The vupward' movement of the cap 82 is limited by the engagement of thev press chamber head 58 against the press unit head 31 and at the time such engagement' occurs the walls y56v and 57. will be ,fully and positively spaced from :the bale andV the dogs 38 will be fully and positivelyk withdrawn from under thehbale, the latter thereupon droppingV through vthe ypress chamber and its eXtensionboX 33.

When the bale has thus beenV released and inder 71, the escape of the oil from said cyl-f inder being pre-vented by lthe check valve 79. As the head 58 descends it alsoV carries with it the stems 93 which, through the ring 90, positively effect the return of the f cap'82. The sleeves 94 ofcourse follow the stems 93 and the dogs 38'resume their normal position by gravity. The press chamber is then ready to receive another Y preliminarily compressedbale and for such purpose is moved to the Vloading station whence it started. Y Y

The connection of the stems 93 to the head 58, aside from providing for the operation of said head vby thevcap 82 and,VV the return of the parts to their normal consequent to the downward movement of said head, also insures that the -dogs- 38 may not be operated to release the bale until after the valve 80 has beeny operated to permit the upwardV movement of the heard 58, thereby making it compulsory to gradually relieve the compression pressure on the bale prior to its discharge from the press. This is for the reason, as will be obvious, that the head 58 is held rigidly in its normal position so long as the valve 80 is closed and, as thus held rigid, will prevent an upward movement of the cap 82, the stems 93 functioning as ties; wherefore the cap 82 may be operate-d only as the head 58 is permitted to rise by the operation of its controlling means, specifically the valve 80.

Turret 0pcmtz'0n.-Tlie turret is preferably gear-driven in its step-by-step operation whereby to move the press units to the successive stations at which the various operations are performed, the gearing being under the control of a device which is normally effective to prevent the rotation of the turret and which is automatically operative to limit such rotation to a step whose extent is determined by the number of stations. In the embodiment disclosed this step comprises one-sixth of a revolution.

The gearing is preferably of the construction disclosedaccording to which the turret base 4 is utilized as a gear wheel and is provided with marginal spur teeth 106 (Figures 2, 51 and 52), these being in mesh with an intermittently operated pinion 107 (Figures 49, 51 and 52) which, in operation, rotates but a single revolution during which it moves the base 4 through one step, i. e. one-sixth of a revolution.

For the operation of the pinion 107 there is providedv an upright clutch shaft 108 (Figures 42, 49 and 52) which has a bearing 109 in the base 1 and is continuously Vdriven by suitable gearing (not shown) preferably loca-ted below said base. Above the base 1 the shaft 108 is provided with a continuous annular flange 110 (Figures 41, 42 and 49) and above said flange with a reduced clutch discl 111 having a radial elongated recess 112 extending to 'its margin. Beyond the disc 111 the shaft has an extension 113 which forms a journal for the pinion 107. The pinion 107 is combined with a clutch element 114 (Figures 43, 44, 45, 49 and 52) whose diameter is equal to that of the flange 110 and which rests upon the disc 111. The clutch element 114 has its body part integral with the pinion 107 and is completed by a ring fitted peripherally on said body part. The extension 113 projects beyond the pinion 107 and its upper end is fitted in a bearing 115 (Figures .5152) suitably fastened to the base 1, said bearing having in its under side an angular recess 116 to aord accommodation for the flange 110, the clutch member 114 and the pinion 107.

The flange 110 and clutch member 114 delimit an annular recess 117 for which the disc 111 provides a base and to which the recess 112 extends. The clutch member 114 is provided with an elongated radial recess 118 which conforms to and, at times, registers with the recess 112 but is of greater length. The recess 118 extends from a vertical bore 119 which is closed at its upper end. The pinion 107 is operatively coupled to the disc 111 by a clutch pin 120 (Figures 46-49) having a cylindrical shank 121 and a radial shoe 122 whose under face has a cam formation as at 128. The shank 121 works in the bore 119 and the shoe 122 works 'in the recesses 118-112 to which it conforms. The clutch pin 120 is pressed downward by an expansion helical spring 124 socleted therein and bearing against the end closure of the bore 119.

)When the shoe 122 occupies both of the recesses 118 and 112 the pinion 107 is thereby connected to the clutch disc 111 and is driven from the shaft 108.

Normally` however, the shoe 122 is confined in the upper recess 118 and the disc 111 rotates free of the pinion 107 which of course remains stationary; and when the shoe is permitted to engage in the recess 112 it is automatically disengaged from said recess as soon as the pinion 107 has completed a single revolution. For the control of the shoe 122 a. horizontal lever 126 (Figures 50, 51 and 52) is employed, said lever being pivoted at 127, preferably on the head 28 of the cylinder 27, and having an angularly disposed hand grip 128. The working terminal 129 of the lever operates in the recess 117 and in a mating recess formed in the bearing 115 and is formed to engage the cam 123 of the shoe 122 in order to hold said shoe beyond the recess 112. The lever is normally acted on by a spring 131 housed in the bearing 115. The said terminal 129 normally rides upon the edge of the disc 111 (forming the `base of the recess 117) but when the recess 112 comes into alinement with the shoe 122 the spring 181 snaps the terminal slightly into the recess 112 wherein it is effective to prevent said shoe from entering said recess. As the rotation of the disc 111 continues the far corner of the recess 112 will displace the terminal 129 from said recess. When the pinion 107 is to be rotated the lever 126 is manipulated 'to hold the terminal 129 beyond the recess 112 at the time the latter comes into alinement with the shoe '122 whereupon said shoe is pressed by its spring 124 into said recess and the pinion 107 then rotates with the disc 111. As soon as the rotation of the pinion 107 commences v the lever 126 is released and the spring acts on said lever as before, forcing its terminal into the recess 112 as the pinion 107 complet-es its revolution. rlhe terminal 129, acting on the cam 123, is then effective to raise 

